Opposition BJP on Thursday slammed the Nitish Kumar government for indulging in “drama” in the name of challenging the bail granted to Md Shahabuddin and dared it to make public the status of trial in different cases against the RJD strongman.

“Through statements – like this is a legal process, law will take its own course and the matter is being studied – the government is indulging in nautanki (drama) in the name of challenging bail of Mohammad Shahabuddin in the killing of Rajiv Roshan, an eyewitness in the killing of his two brothers by bathing them in acid,” party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.

The BJP held sit-ins at district headquarters during the day to press for its demand of arresting Shahabuddin in the killing of scribe Rajdev Ranjan.

Bihar BJP President Mangal Pandey said the party would observe “dhikkar diwas” (day of condemnation) in the state tomorrow over the issue.

Sushil Modi said in a statement here Shahabuddin got bail because the state government “did not field a senior lawyer” to oppose his bail plea.

“State Law minister Krishnandan Varma was heard saying he was not competent to speak whether the state government would file an appeal against Shahabuddin in Supreme Court,” he said.

Sushil Modi, who is a former deputy chief minister, sought to know from the state government as why it did not challenge in a higher court the bails Shahabuddin secured in lower courts in different pending casess against him.

He also dared the state government to make public the status of trial in different cases related to the RJD strongman.